ciprofloxacin (Ophthalmic route)

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Ciloxan

Available Dosage Forms:

Solution

Ointment

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Fluoroquinolone

Uses For ciprofloxacin

Ophthalmic ciprofloxacin is used in the eye to treat bacterial infections of the eye (ophthalmic ointment and solution) and corneal ulcers of the eye (ophthalmic solution). Ophthalmic ciprofloxacin works by killing bacteria.

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Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic preparation is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using ciprofloxacin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ciprofloxacin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ciprofloxacin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Use is not recommended in infants and children up to 2 years of age (ophthalmic ointment) and 1 year of age (ophthalmic solution). In children older than 1 or 2 years of age, ciprofloxacin is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of ophthalmic ciprofloxacin in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category

Explanation

All Trimesters

C

Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking ciprofloxacin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using ciprofloxacin with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Agomelatine

Amifampridine

Bepridil

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Lomitapide

Mesoridazine

Pimozide

Piperaquine

Saquinavir

Sparfloxacin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Tizanidine

Ziprasidone

Using ciprofloxacin with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acarbose

Acecainide

Acetohexamide

Alfuzosin

Alogliptin

Alosetron

Amiodarone

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Anagrelide

Apixaban

Apomorphine

Aripiprazole

Arsenic Trioxide

Artemether

Asenapine

Astemizole

Azimilide

Azithromycin

Bendamustine

Benfluorex

Bosutinib

Bretylium

Buserelin

Canagliflozin

Chlorpromazine

Chlorpropamide

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clomipramine

Clozapine

Crizotinib

Cyclobenzaprine

Dabrafenib

Dapagliflozin

Dasatinib

Delamanid

Desipramine

Deslorelin

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Domperidone

Donepezil

Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome

Droperidol

Eliglustat

Eltrombopag

Erlotinib

Erythromycin

Escitalopram

Everolimus

Exenatide

Fentanyl

Fingolimod

Flecainide

Fluconazole

Fluoxetine

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Gliclazide

Glimepiride

Glipizide

Gliquidone

Glyburide

Gonadorelin

Goserelin

Granisetron

Guar Gum

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Histrelin

Hydrocodone

Ibrutinib

Ibutilide

Ifosfamide

Iloperidone

Imipramine

Insulin Aspart, Recombinant

Insulin Degludec

Insulin Detemir

Insulin Glargine, Recombinant

Insulin Glulisine

Insulin Human Isophane (NPH)

Insulin Human Regular

Insulin Lispro, Recombinant

Ivabradine

Ketoconazole

Lapatinib

Leuprolide

Levofloxacin

Linagliptin

Liraglutide

Lopinavir

Lumefantrine

Lurasidone

Mefloquine

Metformin

Methadone

Metronidazole

Mifepristone

Miglitol

Moricizine

Moxifloxacin

Nafarelin

Naloxegol

Nateglinide

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Olaparib

Ondansetron

Paliperidone

Pasireotide

Pazopanib

Perflutren Lipid Microsphere

Pioglitazone

Pirfenidone

Pomalidomide

Posaconazole

Pramlintide

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Ranolazine

Rasagiline

Repaglinide

Rosiglitazone

Salmeterol

Saxagliptin

Sematilide

Sevoflurane

Simeprevir

Simvastatin

Sitagliptin

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Sunitinib

Tasimelteon

Tedisamil

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Teriflunomide

Tetrabenazine

Theophylline

Tolazamide

Tolbutamide

Toremifene

Trazodone

Trifluoperazine

Trimipramine

Triptorelin

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Vilanterol

Vilazodone

Vildagliptin

Vinflunine

Voriconazole

Warfarin

Using ciprofloxacin with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Betamethasone

Budesonide

Chloroquine

Corticotropin

Cortisone

Cosyntropin

Cyclosporine

Deflazacort

Dexamethasone

Diclofenac

Dutasteride

Fludrocortisone

Fluocortolone

Fosphenytoin

Hydrocortisone

Itraconazole

Lanthanum Carbonate

Methylprednisolone

Mycophenolate Mofetil

Olanzapine

Phenytoin

Prednisolone

Prednisone

Probenecid

Rifapentine

Ropinirole

Ropivacaine

Sildenafil

Triamcinolone

Zolpidem

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using ciprofloxacin with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use ciprofloxacin, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Caffeine

Proper Use of ciprofloxacin

To use the ophthalmic ointment:

First, wash your hands. Tilt the head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Squeeze a thin strip of ointment into this space. A ½-inch strip of ointment is usually enough, unless you have been told by your doctor to use a different amount. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to come into contact with the infection.

To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). After using the eye ointment, wipe the tip of the ointment tube with a clean tissue and keep the tube tightly closed.

To use the ophthalmic solution (eye drops):

First, wash your hands. Then tilt the head back and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to come into contact with the infection.

If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eyes properly, use another drop.

To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed.

To help clear up your eye infection completely, keep using ophthalmic ciprofloxacin for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms have disappeared. Do not miss any doses .

Dosing

The dose of ciprofloxacin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of ciprofloxacin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For ophthalmic ointment dosage form:

For bacterial conjunctivitis:

Adults and children 2 years of age and older—Use a ½-inch strip of eye ointment in each eye three times a day for the first two days, then use a ½-inch strip of eye ointment in each eye two times a day for the next five days.

Infants and children up to 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For ophthalmic solution dosage form:

For bacterial conjunctivitis:

Adults and children 1 year of age and older—Use 1 drop in each eye every two hours, while you are awake, for two days. Then use 1 drop in each eye every four hours, while you are awake, for the next five days. If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eyes properly, use another drop.

Infants and children up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For corneal ulcers:

Adults and children 1 year of age and older—On day one, use 2 drops in the affected eye every fifteen minutes for six hours, then 2 drops every thirty minutes for the rest of the day, while you are awake. On day two, use 2 drops every hour, while you are awake. On days three through fourteen, use 2 drops every four hours, while you are awake.

Infants and children up to 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of ciprofloxacin, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Precautions While Using ciprofloxacin

If your eye infection does not improve within a few days, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

ciprofloxacin may cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than they are normally. Wearing sunglasses and avoiding too much exposure to bright light may help lessen the discomfort.

ciprofloxacin Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Allergic reaction, such as skin rash, hives, or itching

blurred vision or other change in vision

eye pain

irritation (severe) or redness of eye

nausea

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Burning or other discomfort of eye

crusting or crystals in corner of eye

Less common

Bad taste following use in the eye

feeling of something in eye

itching of eye

redness of the lining of the eyelids

Rare

Dryness of eye

increased sensitivity of eyes to light

swelling of eyelid

tearing of eye

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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